Friday, July 1, 2011

Please, don't hurt the ones you love...

The current national debate over the federal budget and debt limits/debt reduction could have a severe impact to hospitals and healthcare centers across the country. Some in Congress are considering a $100 billion cut in Medicare and Medicaid reimbursements to hospitals. These funding programs exist to care for persons with disabilities, seniors, children, and the most poor in our nation.

Most people know the financial challenges that Grinnell Regional Medical Center has faced because of already low reimbursement from Medicare and Medicaid. More than half of our patients rely on these programs for their primary health insurance. Cuts in these programs affect all of us, whether we use them ourselves or not.

All over the country, hospitals just like GRMC are open 24/7 and stand ready as the only source of medical care for millions of Americans. Please, join me in telling Congress to protect hospital care.